The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-04

fthe state is found to be 39O43/17, //77.
This is from the most reliable data.
Its agreement with the latitude as
adopted by Mason and Dixon is acct
dental, as they were clearly in error.
either in their observations at Phila-
delphia or in their measurements OF
the distance of 10 miles.
Mean latitude of Fairfax Stone..... 30oII'32, y
Oakland........."....2 9o2f3ONN
The corrected measurements along
the meridian line adopted in the con-
struction of the maps make the dis.
lance from Fairfax Stone to Mason
and Dixon's line 191, 1915 feet, or &c.
Hence the latitude of the N. w.
corner of the state is 39043/O7" 8, diff
fering 1917 or 337 yards from the
above latitude of n. e. corner. This
may be owing either to errors in our
observations or measurements, or to
errors in tracing the parallel by Ma
son and Dixon, or which is likely, to
errors of both combined. 1t is to be
regretted that the means at our CON-
manu, owing to the failure of Vir.
ginia TO continue the work Jointly
with us, prevented our testing this
last result by direct observations.
Trasit of the moon, and moon cul-
muniating stars, to ascertain the
probable longitude of the maridian
line were observed.
The difference of time was also as
certained by comparison of chronom-
eters transported from the Washing
ton Observatory to Oakland, Allie.
gany county, by railroad.
The length of the parallel forming
the Northern boundary of the State
becomes 3042/10".0, or about 1O7l
miles.
The difference in time between
Oakland-station, B. & o. r. r., and
w
is IL minutes and II seconds.
The monument erected by my di.
rection, to mark the N. w. Corner o.
the State falls 1850 feet by measure.
ment east of one of Mason and Dix.
on'S mounds. But as these" mounds
are not marked, and as it is not Ger.
tain they were intended to denote g
precise number of miles from the
point of beginning flor the stone
monuments they erected at every
mile do not extend beyond the 1920
mile, the foot of Sideling Hill, from
which point westwardly to the crest
of the AIleghanies, their mounds
were placed at irregular intervals
this determination of the longitude
of the meridian line cannot at pres.
ent be tested by their measurements
There have been two lines pre-.
viously run to designate this 5oun.
Diary. One called the Armstrong
line, surveyed a few years ago by
compass, runs to the Westward Of
the line just established. The last
distinct mark found of it, is on the
top of Backbone, where it is some $50
feet west of our monument No. 2.
The other line is known as the sold
line" A few points upon this line
were identified. The first on Back
bone is 80 feet East of the monument.
Another, a short distance North OF
the Horse Shoe road, where the fence
of field belonging to John Schla'
bach, running nearly parallel with
the meridian, and 60 to 80 feet to the
east of it has been considered upon
the old line. There is distinct mark
of the old line at gate onthe Mill
road near Weil's store. This is 81
feet East of the true line, There is 8
fence in Freelock's clearing between
Lauer Hill and the BALTIC. & Ohio R.
r., said to be on the old line. This
measurement is 537 feet East of the
meridian line. A mound was poin'
ted out on Mason and Dixon's line as
designating the Intersection of the
old line with the Pennsylvania Boun.
Diary. This mound is 1876 feet East
of our monument,